PHILLY PART 2 I’M IN LOVE WITH MORIMOTO & PICS FROM THE FLOWER SHOW

March 18, 2018

Philly in 24 Part Two,

This 24 hour trip to Philadelphia was like a food lovers dream. After the drive up, bellying up to the Tommy DiNic’s bar for a roast pork – brisk walk around the city (freezing thank you very much March winds were blowing) a little r&r in our suite at the Ritz we rallied up and got ready for dinner. Now to start you should know that this restaurant has been on my bucket list for years! I have admired and wanted to dine at Iron Chef Morimoto’s Japanse restaurant since the day I saw him on TV and knew he was only a few hours away. I can’t believe it took me so long to get here ……….

Surprisingly, Mike called Thursday afternoon and was able to snag a 7 pm reso…….! Huh? How is this possible I asked? “We have to eat at the small sushi bar in the back,” he said. Apparently not the “hot spot”. “I am fine with that,” I said. Note to you all it turned out to be the best seat in the house. A little crowded & busy by the kitchen door also a little chilly since the restaurant is long like an alley and the vent fans pull hard from the kitchen. Below is my view and I would not change a thing.

Here is the Tofu that is made table side – how cool right – I only had a bit or two – way too many other things to eat. Not bad though – 10 points for cleverness and presentation.

The Whitefish Carpaccio was off the charts delicious. It was lush, delicate, flavorful a piece of heaven on a plate for sure. I would get this every time. I will get this every time!

BELOW Tuna = Maguro Perfection! Nothing else needed the fresh ginger just a thin piece a dash of wasabi and a small dip in the soy – BTW the soy sauce at the bar best ever, not the same old same of Kikkoman here!

I also ate (sadly not pictured here) the Toro or the fatty tuna. I had never had that before and I am so glad I waited to have it here! Seriously, people, it was like nothing I’ve ever eaten. Not fishy in the least – melted on my tongue like butter. The tuna over warm sushi rice nothing else just a drop of soy sauce. PERFECT! I am spoiled I will never have sushi again without having this as the bar! In fact, won’t be going anywhere local I mean so what is 2 hours or so for the best of something you’ve ever had! Then the sushi chef asked if he could make me something (a major *perk to sitting at the sushi bar) and I was like YEAH!!!!!!!! YES – HAI! He then torched the Toro so the fat melted and created a thin crust on top. I mean baby you have me now! I proceeded to order 6 more pieces (Yes 6 don’t judge me) of Toro the regular un torched and was in heaven. See below snippet of the menu. The full menu and website is HERE

I did not realize the cost per piece $16.00 each but it was worth and I WILL DO IT AGAIN!

I did not get pictures because I was enjoying all of it so much! HAHA I mean it was that good and even I did not want to grab my camera. That is saying something my friends. Next Mike went for it and got the Wagyu beef. Tender, moist, rare all that we had ever heard of Wagyu – it did not disappoint. I was still in heaven over the Toro and only ate a bite of the beef. Morimoto offers a great drink selection as well. Mike had a Martini and I had a ginger mocktail you see for me and Mike agreed later some food is so good you don’t want to fill up on alcohol or a cocktail just doesn’t go. Like when we have Peking Duck no drinks there only water and tea. I don’t know maybe for some folks its different I’m sure. I mean they did have a cool sake flight our neighbors at the bar enjoyed. However, for me I needed to save all the room in my belly for food and I got quite a buzz from the tuna!

Now dessert the sushi chef suggested the “firey chocolate tart” and told me to get my camera out which I did right away. The tart was a decadent chocolate salted caramel ganache, with chocolate sorbet, marshmallow, and almond. CLICK HERE FOR LITTLE DESSERT VIDEO

This is what is left – maybe I did have more than one little bite. I have to say this was the best Japanese Sushi meal I/we have ever had. I can’t wait to go back and take the kids. They have all grown up to be quite the “foodie” themselves.

After that, I poured myself into a lovely hot bath at the Ritz and slept like a baby. Waking Sunday morning to full sunshine and coffee in the room we got ready for the day and headed to the convention center and the Philadelphia Flower Show. I had been to this event years ago so I was really looking forward to it. The entrance was a typical hotel large convention space with lots of people selling all sorts of things but when we entered the doors it was as if we were transported.

I mean the epitome of a garden party here right? I love the hanging vines and globes

Or what if you had an outdoor forest theme wedding to the right is the little chapel ….

I really liked all the details in the train city below.

This sparked ideas for the front of The Tasting Room or my patio

A cute beach houses front entrance using the oyster shells as a walkway – really clever!

I just couldn’t stop looking at the cactus display almost seemed as if it was in outer space.

This is just perfect for me. I am a big fan of formal architectural gardens. Lots of symmetry, pathways, statues etc…. if you have space.

We did hit DiNics again for brunch and as we walked back to the hotel gearing up to leave Philly was having its Saint Patricks Day Parade a week early here and I ran into this fella.Pretty funny and a great ending to our little weekend getaway. The diet starts Monday!

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Welcome to “BLANK SLATE”. My name is Lori Tauraso, I’m a 40 something mother of 4, empty nester . So I find myself trying something new. While raising my family, I’ve been a make-up artist and worked for NARS, Elizabeth Arden & Clinique. I have done freelance work, dabbled in Interior Design and lent my touch to some local restaurants, offices, fundraising events & parties! I love to express my creativity in many ways. You name it, I’ve done it. Fashion, makeup, travel & entertaining have always been a love closely bordering on obsession for me!!!!

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